PHENYLBIGUANIDE NOT PHENYLDIGUANIDE IS USED TO EVOKE THE PULMONARY CHEMOREFLEX IN ANESTHETIZED RABBITS

The pulmonary chemoreflexes evoked by phenylbiguanide (PBG), phenyldiguanide (PDG), phenylguanidine (PG) and 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) have been investigated in the pentobarbitone‐anaesthetized rabbit. The rank order of potency was 5‐HT greater than PBG greater than PG greater than PDG. The responses evoked by all agonists were antagonized by pre‐treatment with the selective 5‐HT3 receptor antagonist MDL 72222, suggesting that their reflex effects are mediated by 5‐HT3 receptors located on pulmonary vagal afferents. Furthermore, considering the low potency and long injection response time of PDG compared to PBG, we conclude that previous workers have used PBG and not PDG to identify non‐myelinated pulmonary vagal afferents and to evoke the pulmonary chemoreflex. © 1990 The Physiological Society